Cats on Hills with recurring UTIs

[cprcheetah]

RX diets do not work by solving the problem, rather they mask the symptom and from what I've seen... just cause more issues later.

I would get those cats on a diet with as much MOISTURE as possible. Urinary issues from cats on a kibble diet are common because of the lack of moisture. They do not have the thirst drive of most animals, because being obligate carnivores they are designed to get their moisture from their food.

Species appropriate ingredients are obviously important as well, they need MEAT. If there's no way these cats can be on raw, I would at least get them on canned food. I think that a slightly lower quality canned food would be even more beneficial to them than Orijen dry food....but of course ANYTHING is better than SD!

That is EXACTLY what I was going to say, that they 'mask' the problem and cause others. We recently had a Vet come in and do an ultrasound on a dog with Congenital Kidney Failure she told them to avoid k/d at all costs because it's so low in protein dogs lose muscle mass on it, she told them while not 'ideal' Royal Canin's Renal was a better choice. A few years ago we had a rash of diabetic patients come in (newly diagnosed) we did research and ALL of them were fed SD products (both OTC and prescription) for most of their lives....that was one of the things that really started myself and my dad/vet on the path to 'nutritional discovery' as far as pets go. It was a really scary eye opener.

[Donna Little]

I'm putting my 2 on raw this week. They actually started getting chicken and beef heart in their canned food a couple of days ago. They are eating it fine and I'm hoping within the next week they'll be eating nothing but raw. One of my guys had surgery this past winter because of a total blockage. $600 later he has no penis but he can also pee. (I didn't tell him and I don't think he's noticed.) He's been eating mostly canned since but I want better for him. I'd tried starting on raw a couple of months ago with the 2 of them but they wouldn't eat it so I was afraid they'd end up with more problems. Both are FIV pos. This time with advice from folks on this forum I'm mixing it with their canned and adding more raw every meal. It's working and they dove right in this afternoon. I have no doubt this will be the best way to go.

[schtuffy]

One of my guys had surgery this past winter because of a total blockage. $600 later he has no penis but he can also pee. (I didn't tell him and I don't think he's noticed.)

Aww, poor guy I've got to admit, your comment made me chuckle! Glad he's in better shape now!

[Cliffdog]

Wet food works wonders. I give my cat canned to prevent UTIs. Cats are too much of a struggle to transition for me to get Apollo on raw... being as old as he is, he's set in his ways and literally won't eat ANYTHING except kibble topped with canned. I doubt I'll ever have a cat again because I hate feeding kibble/canned to them but it's too much trouble to transition.

[kady05]

FWIW, prior to going on prescription foods, my cats ate practically all wet, all grain free high quality foods. So that didn't work for me. My oldest has been on the S/O for almost 5yrs. now and has perfect blood work, great weight, great coat, etc., so it's obviously not affecting him negatively. Same with my younger cats (they're 3 & 4). Sorry but after $1500 in vet bills even WITH feeding high quality, wet foods, I'm not risking it again, especially when they do so well on the prescription food.

[cprcheetah]

FWIW, prior to going on prescription foods, my cats ate practically all wet, all grain free high quality foods. So that didn't work for me. My oldest has been on the S/O for almost 5yrs. now and has perfect blood work, great weight, great coat, etc., so it's obviously not affecting him negatively. Same with my younger cats (they're 3 & 4). Sorry but after $1500 in vet bills even WITH feeding high quality, wet foods, I'm not risking it again, especially when they do so well on the prescription food.

glad you found a solution, for me it made my cats worse, and working for a vet I saw cats who were on it get worse, we had to do a Perineal Urethrostomy on one cat who was on the canned SO for years.....so different things may work for different cats, I know what's worked best for my cats.

[whiteleo]

I have always fed a high quality kibble to my cats, and canned mixed with water as my vet suggested. My 16 yr. old cat has never had a UTI, and my boy kitty who hunts frogs and whatever else he can catch hasn't either, he is 7.

[schtuffy]

So here's an update...they are feeding mostly canned with water along with a small amount of Orijen and the cats are already peeing a lot more. Hopefully it all works out. Thanks everyone for the help!